April 13-18, 2018, ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO FIGLINE VALDARNO, ITALY

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The second learning activity took place at the Instituto Comprensivo Figline Valdarno School in Italy in May 14-18th, 2018. The participants were as follows: 10 pupils and 3 teachers from the Netherlands, 7 pupils and 2 teachers from Germany, 2 pupils and 2 teachers from Greece, 2 pupils and 2 teachers from Lithuania, 2 pupils and 3 teachers from Romania, 4 teachers from Sweden, 2 teachers from Ireland. Students were hosted in the Italian students' families. Our students were hosted by Italian families and together with their children went to school (8 hours daily), participated in extracurricular activities and experienced the daily routine because they were always together, they  have seen the concerns of Italian children , how they spend their free time, how they prepare for school. Teachers visited the primary schools of Del Puglia, Cavicchi, San Biagiounde and attended various practical lessons using the STEAM method the students learned: structure of a home, how to build a house, design a work scheme for a house; they also attended  drawing activities, sport activities, competitions - all of them had as a result  learning through the game;  a meeting with a building specialist was also organized, who presented to the children the structure of the soil where a home is built, how to make the project, the masonry, the water, gas, electricity installation, roof structures etc. Teachers attended the presentation of Italian education system, attended the  practice test of final exam supported by  Vasari Cousine school graduates where the teachers gave  the candidates  marks,  they were accompanied in Figline city tour by guides such as the students from the Vasari school. Teachers and students visited the "Galileo Galilei" Science Museum in Florence and participated in a robot use and programming workshop at the ISIS S. Giovanni Institute-here we took part in a robotics workshop where our students practised programming skills and have managed to make some robots to go, blink in different colours, sing and dance. We think that this learning activity has contributed to the development of communication skills and creativity, to strengthening teachers 'professional and pedagogical skills, to improving the students' skills to use their knowledge in practice, the teachers have experienced how to harmoniously blend  formal and informal learning in children's education. For our children, the most important thing is that they have a relationship with a group of European pupils, they communicated in English and are part of an international network. During our spare time we attended a parents' evening where we all experienced the variety of Italian cuisine. Only the teachers had dinner with the participated  partners  in this meeting in Figline. After finishing the project activities, before returning home, the Romanian team visited the city of Florence, the Tower of Pisa and the city of Venice. The whole activity has contributed to the improvement of English language skills, the use of various means of transport, the improvement of technical, artistic, mathematical, scientific and engineering skills in general, the exchange of best practices among teachers on working methods in class, improving geographic and cultural knowledge about the Italian people, experimenting with respect for behaviour, tolerance in an international communication environment with great linguistic and behavioural diversity. 

Teachers’ schedule*

From Romania participated three teachers and two students

Foreign children have been  hosted by Italian students’ families and attended the school of their hosts in order to bring them closer to everyday life. Teachers too have experienced an involvement in Italian primary schools as an educational experience at an international level and as an opportunity to practice English and develop a European dimension. With regard to the objectives of the project, teachers and pupils have been  involved in the following activities: 

welcoming visit and knowledge of the Italian School System 

evening with the hosting families 

taking part of some of the activities of the inclusion week 

visit to Florence, to the Science Museum in Florence, 

involvement workshops ( buildings) 

participation in robotics workshops  involving ISIS Valdarno High School 

visit to Isis Vasari Cousine High School  

Spending a week in another country for hosting and hosted  has meant  personal growth, autonomy, self-confidence, cultural and linguistic enrichment, openness of mind; both for foreign students and teachers and  for Italian students  and teachers this experience has developed knowledge, tolerance and promotion of those transversal skills that build the European citizen.

Activities in school

Activities at the Galileo Galilei Museum

Visit to Florence

Visit to Venice

Visit to Pisa

Impressions of participating children